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Grape, Grain and Graze Festival

Olympic Park, Homebush, Sydney

Tasted September 23, 2023 by chatters with 217 views

Introduction

After my first go at this last year I was far better prepared this year.

Flight 1 (90 notes)

White
2014 McGuigan Sémillon Bin 9000 Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Aromas of lanolin, bees wax, lime, honey, a little lemon and grass. Dusty spices. Slight sharp acidity but has a sense of fleshiness, textured burr, slight honey, lemon, lime, okay.
Red
2022 Montalto Vineyards Pinot Noir Pennon Hill Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula
Pretty and jubey red berries, sweet spice, slight okay in support. On the palate it's fleshy and generous, red berry fruit, a little powdery rasp, simple, nice. Yum in fact
Red
2021 Sevenhill Cellars Grenache Open Range Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Ripe strawberry, sweet spice, quite a simple nose. Juicy, savoury straying to bitter red hued fruits, plenty of tannic grip. Feels slightly overworked. Meh
Red
2022 Dune The Empty Quarter Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Jubey, fresh bleu and blackberry fruit, slight spice. Fleshy and easy, tannins are grippy but in support and offer a burr, charming and smashable.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2018 Yalumba Shiraz The Steeple Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Quite ripe and concentrated, polished oak, blackberry, rich, ripe, dense...blackberry, slight plum, woody tannins are drying, grippy. All travel long. Powerful. Woof
Red
2022 Millbrook Winery Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Geographe
Sweet red berries; strawberry and raspberry make me feel that this is quite Grenache heavy. Touch of wood glue. In the mouth it's a little dilute, red berry, alcohol warmth, it has a sense of clumsiness, pretty bad. Ugh in fact.
Red
2021 George's Folly Montepulciano Nero d'Avola Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu
Ripe spiced blackcurrant and plum on the nose, baked earth. Juicy and fleshy on the palate with tea tannins which prove drying and tight, fruit drops a little quickly but whilst present is all fresh & spiced. Other than the lack of length this is pretty good.
White
2022 Silkman Wines Chardonnay Reserve Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin
Buttery, rich, stone fruit and white fig over citrus and slightly dusty spices. Juicy, tangy, fruit very slightly sour on the palate, textured burr, long, interesting. Hmm
Red
2022 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Applejack Vineyard Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of cranberry lozenges and raspberry, touch of whole bunch ashy and green notes in the background. Medium plus intensity acidity proves juicy but lends tartness to the fruit, despite the tannins being quite softly textured there is a sense of hardness. a little plain chocolate on the finish. Hmm.
White
2021 Evans & Tate Chardonnay Redbrook Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Sulphur, struck match over peach, lemon, butter...In the mouth it's far more citrus and a little more sour, struck match notes, slight alcohol warmth helps carry the finish. Hmm.
White
2023 Jim Barry Riesling Lodge Hill Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
lime over green apple, floral top notes. Juicy, spritz, crunchy fruit, balanced. Good.
White
2022 d'Arenberg Riesling The Dry Dam Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Kerosene, lime, slight honey and butter; nice but forward nose. Juicy, fleshy, generous, slight purity, texture, lime, nice
White
2022 Pipers Brook Vineyard Riesling Australia, Tasmania, Pipers River
Dusty lime cordial on the nose. Bit meh on the palate, lime, sharp acid though does travel long <shrugs>
White
2020 Orlando Riesling Steingarten Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
ooh, sulphur prickle, meaty, lime, slight sharp smelling. In the mouth it's sourly sharp; not very nice.
White
2015 Gilbert Family Wines Riesling Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Lime, green apple, slight lemon, honey, smidge of bacon fat. Medium plus intensity acidity but quite softly fruited, a little bread yeast. Slightly dilute but interesting none the less.
White
2022 Peter Lehmann Sauvignon Blanc Portrait Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Sweet gooseberry, passion fruit. Juicy, perhaps a little residual sugar, smidge of mineral, sweet fruits. Hmm
White
2023 Tyrrell's Sémillon Single Vineyard HVD Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Apple, green grass, slightly sulphurous, lime. Juicy, fleshy & generous, fruit forward style. Yum
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2023 De Iuliis Sémillon Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Slight sulphur, apple, floral notes, slight grass; pretty nose. Almost jubey, lozenge, fruit forward, a touch short. Hmm.
White
2022 Brokenwood Sémillon 1899 Old Vines Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
medium minus intensity aromas of orchard fruit; apples; pears. Juicy acidity tends to medium plus intensity, tangy with similar orchard fruit on the palate, simple but okay.
White
2022 De Iuliis Sémillon Single Vineyard Garden Vineyard Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of lime/lemon/green apple, juicy, tangy, slightly muted fruit. Hmm
White
2018 McGuigan Sémillon Bin 9000 Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Butter, honey, slightly dusty, apple. Juicy, fleshy generous, charming. Yum
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2017 Brokenwood Sémillon ILR Reserve Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of apple, sulphur, fresh grass. Medium plus intensity acidity, apple skin bitterness, textured burr. Hmm.
White
2022 Rowlee Wines Pinot Gris Single Vineyard Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
Medium plus intensity aromas of rather fruit forward pear and melon. More of the same on the palate, simple but nicely balanced.
White
2022 Murdoch Hill Chardonnay The Rocket Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Savoury, slightly meaty, oddly dilute, bacon fat, stone fruit. More concentrated on the palate, textured, stone fruit, bacon fat, butter, okay
White
2022 Sidewood Estate Chardonnay Mappinga Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Bacon fat, dusty spice, lemon over peach. Medium plus intensity acidity, stone fruit and lemon, textured, slight bacon fat. Woof! Time.
White
2022 First Creek Wines Chardonnay Winemaker's Reserve Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of stone fruit; white peach; nectarine. Fleshy, juicy, tangy, a little citrus joins on the palate, textured burr, very slightly out of whack. Hmm.
White
2022 Stella Bella Chardonnay Suckfizzle Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Bacon fat, toasted nuts, oaky, peachy. Textured burr, saline, smoked bacon, lacks fruit. Hmm.
White
2022 Deep Woods Estate Chardonnay Reserve Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
struck match, stone fruit, sweet spice. Juicy, tangy, struck match, slightly anonymous.
White
2021 Landaire Chardonnay Single Vineyard Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway
Bacon fat dominates slight citrus. In the mouth the wine has medium plus intensity acidity, bacon fat dominates the palate as well. Out of whack. Meh.
White
2021 Shottesbrooke Chardonnay Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Medium minus intensity aromas prove slightly reductive and show peach, tangy. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, wild stone fruit, slightly buttery, textured, Interesting.
White
2021 Handpicked Wines Chardonnay Collection Auburn Road Vineyard Australia, Tasmania, Tamar Valley
Meaty, savoury wild ferment, stone fruit, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity fruit lozenge, textured, super tangy. Woof.
White
2020 Evans & Tate Chardonnay Redbrook Reserve Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Sweet spice, butter, muted fruit shows stone over citrus. Medium plus intensity acidity, tangy, rich, generous. Palate better than the nose.
White
2021 Tahbilk Marsanne Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes
Waxy, lanolin, muted stone fruit. Slight more generous on the palate, tangy, textured, kind of yum.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2022 Murdoch Hill Pinot Noir Apollo Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Piccadilly Valley
Struck match, jubey red fruit, sweet spice. Juicy, fleshy, slightly bitter and hard, red berry fruit. Hmm.
Red
2021 Lowestoft Pinot Noir La Maison Australia, Tasmania
Ashy whole bunch, savoury spice, red over black fruit, slightly anonymous. Surprisingly fruit generous on the palate, textured grip, long, simple but nice. Non-intrusive alcohol warmth on finish. Interesting.
Red
2022 The Lane Vineyard Provenance Tempranillo Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Sweet oak spice, jubey berry. Pretty generous but short touch of fruit tea. Hmm.
Red
2022 Mercer Wines Tempranillo Joven Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Hilltops
Fresh, jubey, fruit tea, red berry. Medium plus intensity acidity, very slight sour fruit for me, wild raspberry…Hmm.
Red
2022 Kaesler Grenache The Fave Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Slightly candied strawberry lozenge, pretty, clean nose. Juicy, jubey, balanced, very slightly bitter, textured grip but yum.
Red
2022 Heirloom Vineyards Grenache Alcala McLaren Vale Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Very slight whole bunch, savoury red fruit, sweet spice. Juicy concentrated red fruit, gritty tannins, long, non-intrusive alcohol warmth. Yum.
Red
2021 Peter Lehmann Grenache The Barossan Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Red berry fruit, slight sweet spice, slightly jubey. Juicy, fleshy, talc textured. Hmm.
Red
2022 Hentley Farm The Stray Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Dense, concentrated nose of black and red berry, sweet spice, slightly jammy, dense, thick and unyielding, years required.
Red
2022 Lerida Estate Shiraz Cullerin Lake George Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
jubey blackberry, sweet spice, earthy, black fruit. Slightly more concentrated here, talc textured tannins, a little out of whack. Hmm
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2022 Murdoch Hill Syrah Oakbank Orion Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Slight wood glue, wild ferment, jubey black or red berry. Slightly sour, hard, bit rough and tough. Long but nah.
Red
2022 Kyneton Ridge Estate Shiraz Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Slightly dilute blackberry fruit, black pepper, concentrated, grippy tannins, black fruit tends to the porty. Woof.
Red
2021 Cat Amongst the Pigeons Shiraz Fat Cat Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Confected with extracted baked plums. Medium plus intensity acidity, overblown, slightly bitter and hard, pretty awful stuff.
Red
2021 Nugan Estate Shiraz McLaren Parish Vineyard Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Slightly smoky, black berry fruit, sweet spice, blueberry underpin. Juicy, wood and grape tannins, long, black hued fruits. Good.
Red
2021 Longview Vineyard Syrah MacClesfield Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Medium minus intensity aromas of slightly jubey black fruits, touch of red berry underpin, whole bunch ashiness. On the palate it has grainy textured grip over black hued fruits. Hmm.
Red
2021 Jim Barry Shiraz Expressions Clare Valley Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Jubey, ashy, blackberry, green peppercorn; great nose. Juicy, fleshy, grainy textured , black fruits are in play as well. Long, dry. Okay.
Red
2021 Jim Barry Shiraz The Lodge Hill Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Black pepper, charcuterie, black plums, slight sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, concentrated, dense, black fruit, thick, quite palate fatiguing. Long. Hmm.
Red
2021 Devil's Cave Shiraz Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Meaty, gamey, savoury notes over muted black fruit. Tight, simple, black fruit, slight non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish. Okay.
Red
2019 Trentham Estate Shiraz Cellar Reserve Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
Red currant, red berry, muted black fruit has a slightly jammy underpin. And so it proves on the palate, it's disjointed and dissonant for me. Nah
Red
2019 Shingleback Shiraz D Block Reserve Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Slightly herbaceous, black over red fruits, jubey notes, sweet spice. Jammy and chocolate, old school palate, woody textured. Meh.
Red
2019 Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Shiraz Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Red over black fruit, slightly reductive, very spice. Medium plus intensity acidity is a little clumsy, lashings of drying grip dominates. Nah.
Red
2018 Saltram Shiraz No.1 Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Reductive; agitation shows perfume, floral, rose, black fruits sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, black fruit is concentrated, silky tannins, balanced, good.
Red
2022 22 Degree Halo Shiraz & Nero d'Avola Australia, South Australia, Lower Murray, Riverland
meaty, red over blackberry, sweet spice, generous fruit driven nose. All translates to the palate with fine by drying tannins, pretty good.
Red
2021 Kaesler W.O.M.S. Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
medium minus intensity aromas, black fruits, cream, sweet spice, blackcurrant and plum. Medium plus intensity acidity pushes the fruit into the red spectrum, it's a little clumsy, meh
Red
2021 Barossa Boy Double Trouble Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Ripe blackberry and plum, cream, vanilla. More of the same on the palate, grape and wood tannins, balanced old school.
Red
2019 Lerida Estate Shiraz Viognier Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Reductive, slightly funky, slightly sour on the palate, black over red fruit but it’s a bit meh, chalky tannins.
Red
2021 Poole's Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Cockfighter's Ghost Single Vineyard Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Super herbaceous, almost whole bunch ashiness, muted blackcurrant. Medium plus intensity acidity, juicy, fleshy, ripe but green. Ugh.
Red
2021 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon Sanctum Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Ripe black fruit, sweet spice, slightly meaty, herbaceous underpin. Medium plus intensity acidity, red over black fruit, drying chalky tannins. Meh
Red
2021 Punt Road Cabernet Sauvignon Block 11 Napoleone Vineyard Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
Cream, blackcurrant, sweet spice, very slightly herbaceous. Medium plus intensity acidity, black hued fruit dry and chalky tannins again. Nah.
Red
2020 Evans & Tate Cabernet Sauvignon Wild Cape Margaret River Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Dense black currant, sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, tight but floury textured tannins, red and black fruit is thick. Okay but not for me.
Red
2020 Fermoy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Red over blackcurrant, chocolate, sweet spice, ripe nose. It's a little porty on the palate, controlled tannins but meh otherwise.
Red
2019 Paracombe Cabernet Sauvignon Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Red over black currant, sweet spice, eucalyptus/mint. Medium plus intensity acidity red over black fruit talc textured tannins, it's a little green and lacks as much ripeness as I would like.
Red
2019 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Menzies Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Blackcurrant, mint, sweet spice, cedar, touch of cigar box. Juicy, fleshy, tangy, black fruit, woody tannins, large but balanced. Okay today.
Red
2021 Majella The Musician Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Oak spice, slightly baked black fruits, a touch overdone. Medium plus intensity acidity, chewy tannins alcohol warmth ,black fruits, a little anonymous.
Red
2018 Wolf Blass Black Label Australia, South Australia
Slightly reductive blackberry and currant, oak spice, slight mint. Medium plus intensity acidity, medium plus intensity tannins are drying, coarse, plenty of black fruits, oak spice bit over done. Time will help but not really my style.
Red
2022 Mercer Wines Barbera Novello Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
Dense, black cherry with a savoury underpin, touches of savoury spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, fleshy and savoury, primary fruit forward on the palate. Hmm.
Red
2021 Eden Road Sangiovese Gundagai Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Gundagai
Meaty, savoury, reductive with alcohol prickle. Juicy, tangy, super persistent tannins, slight cherry fruit, nice.
Red
2021 Knappstein Malbec Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Plummy black fruit, juicy, plummy, simple. Okay
White
2023 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Lime and cream, slightly riper than the Leo Buring Leonay but more sulphur, jubey, more citrus on the palate. Hmm.
White
2023 Dead Man Walking Riesling Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Lime curd, sulphur, slight spritz, quite sharp on the palate. Meh.
White
2023 Leo Buring Riesling Leonay Watervale Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale
Lime, minerality, slightly jubey. On the palate it has slightly confected lime juice and fresh acid. Hmm
White
2023 Jim Barry Riesling Watervale Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale
Lime and green apple, slight stone fruit. Juicy, tangy, citrus, okay
White
2022 Atlas Wines Riesling 172º Watervale Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale
Lime, kerosene, slight minerality. Medium plus intensity acidity lends tartness to the lime fruit, simple. Hmm.
White
2023 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1 Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of sulphur, green apple, a little grassy underpin. Tangy, juicy, slightly bitter, dilute, textured burr. Hmm.
White
2017 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1 Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Green apple, lemon grass, slight wet hay. Medium plus intensity acidity, bitter and tough. Time should help but meh today
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2021 Bream Creek Pinot Noir Reserve Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania
Baked black fruit, sweet oak spice. Juicy, fleshy, dense and concentrated, chewy tannins, black fruit, time but balanced, okay.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2022 Yalumba Grenache Vine Vale Australia, South Australia, Barossa
Slightly reductive, almost stalky red berry fruit, savoury and sour on the palate, gritty grippy tannins, not for me.
Red
2022 Millon Estate Shiraz Clare's Secret Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Jubey, pretty, red berry, slight wild ferment, slightly gamey underpin. Lovely nose; compelling. Juicy, fleshy, rich, generous, talc textured burr, very good.
Red
2021 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Miamup Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
Red and blackcurrant, mint and eucalyptus, slight sweet spice. Medium plus intensity acidity, chalky drying tannins, red over blackcurrant but just, long. Okay
Red
2021 Spring Vale Pinot Noir Estate Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast
Jubey, sweet spice, black hued fruit, pretty nose. Juicy, fleshy, tangy, grippy tannins, red and black cherry. Nice
Red
2021 Josef Chromy Pinot Noir Australia, Tasmania, Northern Tasmania
Struck match/bacon fat, slightly reductive, black over red berry, slightly meaty, more of the same on the palate. Rather nice.
Red
2021 Pipers Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Australia, Tasmania
Pretty, jubey, blackberry, wild ferment gameyness. Nice nose. Juicy, fleshy, generous, black fruits, a little textured. Lovely.
White
2023 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2 Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Polish Hill River
Slightly volatile (?), green apple, lemon, lime. Medium plus intensity acidity, again apple over lemon & lime, textured burr. Woof.
Red
2021 Freebird Montepulciano Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Reductive, gamey, red berries and slightly anonymous black fruit beneath this, sulphur. It's concentrated on the palate but feels a bit blurry and out of focus. Meh
Red - Sparkling
N.V. Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek
Muted, leesy, black fruit, sweet spice, off dry. Textured grip dominates the black berry fruit. Needs protein otherwise okay.
Red - Sparkling
N.V. Pepperjack Sparkling Shiraz Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Ooh, funky lees work, black hued fruit, gamey. Super aggressive mousse adds to the drying texture, liquorice over black fruits, bit too chewy for me; keep thinking I'm going to pull splinters of oak out of my mouth. Meh
Red - Sparkling
N.V. De Bortoli Shiraz Woodfired Sparkling Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Bright red and black berry, sweet spice, foamy mousse, grippy tannins prove chewy but the fruit is quite absent from the palate. Meh.
White
2023 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 12 Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Medium minus intensity aromas of green and red apple, sulphur, tangy, slightly sharp, bone dry, textured grip. Hmm

Closing

This was so much fun, great wines, good crowd, wonderful

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